Revealed, plan to build new homes on Malvern's 'green lung' off Hayslan Road

CONTROVERSIAL plans have been unveiled to build on part of Malvern’s ‘green lung’.

Developer Barwood released proposals yesterday for up to 150 houses on fields off Hayslan Road, which is heavily used by dog walkers, joggers, children and nature lovers.

Malvern Civic Society has lambasted the plans and expects strong local opposition.

Bob Tilley, chairman of the civic society’s planning committee, said: “This land has been used by members of the public for decades and there will be a lot of resentment at the prospect of having it developed.”

The 15.5-acre site is owned by girls’ school Malvern St James, and was used as playing fields several decades ago.

Often referred to as part of Malvern’s ‘green lung,’ the land is designated as urban green space in the emerging South Worcestershire Development Plan.

But Mr Tilley fears Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) planners will be unable to refuse Barwood’s plan because of a decision taken earlier this year. In January, the council approved plans to build houses on land including a field next to the current site, also part of the urban green space.

Mr Tilley said: “At that meeting, I told the councillors that approving the plan would lead to further applications for the green space, and now here we are.

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“Our worry is that if MHDC turns this down, the developer will appeal, point to that decision in January and get a decision in his favour.

“I told them so in January and the councillors who voted in favour of that application should hang their heads in shame,” Mr Tilley added.

Barwood’s plan was put on show at the Council House, Avenue Road, yesterday afternoon and evening.

The company did not want to comment yesterday.

Controversy over the land’s future stretches back for decades.

In 2003, following a 10-year dispute, an attempt by a local residents’ group to have the land declared a village green was defeated, following a public inquiry.

The school says it will use proceeds from the site to fund bursaries for poorer pupils.

In a statement released yesterday, it said: “Malvern St James has formalised its commitment to increasing accessibility to girls who would be unable to attend the school without financial assistance.

“The bursary programme has just been launched, and the school intends to extend its provision over the forthcoming years. Proceeds from the sale of Hayslan Fields will add to this fund.”

The developer says the scheme will provide a wide variety of house types and sizes, and is close to local services such as a primary school, health centre, bus stops and leisure facilities.

It says the land is in a “sustainable location”

within the town’s settlement boundary.

And it is outside the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It says: “The public rights of way crossing the site are well used, predominantly by dog walkers and those crossing the site to access shops, the primary school, health centre and local services.

“There is a good opportunity for those rights of way to be properly surfaced and upgraded, to provide moreconvenient, safe and accessible routes.

“Other than the public rights of way, this site is private land.

“The proposals will create areas of public open space, including a green loop around the perimeter and a new children’s play area.

“That space is being designed to create an attractive option for those walking their dogs, runners and for other recreational and leisure activities.”

The company also says it will improve the scrubland on the north of the site with a management plan, making it publicly accessible and enhancing its biodiversity.

Existing mature trees and hedgerows will be retained, and new trees, hedgerows and landscaping will be provided, plus an “sustainable urban drainage system”.

“Whilst the character of the site will change, the footpath link, the enhancement to the area in the north of the site and retention and additional planting of trees and hedgerows along the western and southern boundaries will create an attractive environment.”

Barwood says the plan also strongly promotes sustainable transport measures, seeking “to minimise vehicle trips from the outset of the scheme, with residents being encouraged to walk, cycle and use public transport”.

The 2003 attempt to have the land declared a village green was not the first.

In June 1995, the Pickersleigh Residents Group applied without success.

And a few years later, in 1999, an attempt by Malvern Hills District Council to buy the land came to nothing when the council could not find the cash.

In 2005, Persimmon Homes – the developer of North Site – was showing an interest in the field, and lobbied unsuccessfully to have the land designated for development in the local plan being formulated that year. Barwood’s plans can be viewed at gva.co.uk/hayslanroad.

Comments (4)

Unfortunately I doubt the new changes to the Government's New Policy Planning Framework will come through in time to stop this development.

However its very clear what local residents want. Perhaps time to exercise your democratic rights on 22 May and let Eric Pickles and chums know what you think of their 'new' developer, oh-so friendly planning regime.

Unfortunately I doubt the new changes to the Government's New Policy Planning Framework will come through in time to stop this development.
However its very clear what local residents want. Perhaps time to exercise your democratic rights on 22 May and let Eric Pickles and chums know what you think of their 'new' developer, oh-so friendly planning regime.3thinker

Good place to build tbh, much better than ripping down tree's on the hills. At least it would be keeping the housing together than spreading it further.

If they start to build outwards from the edges of Malvern is the issue, the centre i see no issue.

Good place to build tbh, much better than ripping down tree's on the hills. At least it would be keeping the housing together than spreading it further.
If they start to build outwards from the edges of Malvern is the issue, the centre i see no issue.Hugh Wattmate

I watched Question Time 10.35pm Thursday where the question of housing was put to the panel, which consisted of A Labour minister, A CONservative MP, a LIB/LAB/DEM/TORY MP. some well paid guy Chairman of the National Trust who thought he new everything, and a Lady UKIP member, who had to respond to the combined political assault from all the rest, which she managed very well.
Because the three parties are aware that UKIP are getting a huge support from those of all cocasions across the UK , they forget there own failings and are using UKIP as a political football, even as can sometimes be seen, with the help of the BBC.. However when it came to housing numbers required, what the other politicians failed to understand / see is that simple arithmetic will show how flawed their ideas / understandings are, since we all know that right now there are perhaps some 90,000 on the Housing waiting List, WE are NOT building enough houses to fill that need, and yet daily more and more people, quite understandably, are entering the UK (not counting those who are illegally occupying Sheds in peoples gardens,and 10 or more to a 2 bed house) and will also need houses.
SO Mathamatically NOT POLITICALLY we cannot solve this problem until more houses are built but also a slowing down of immigration must also be invoked. Now that is not RACISM but simple facts.
And look at what has happened to the Countries where wars started not by the people, but the so-called leaders have resulted in whole Cities and Villages bombed flat, that is the Legacy people like Blair and Cameron are leaving behind, So can we really blame these refugees wanting to come and live here even in a Shed in someones garden, at least they have Water and Food, and safety from terrorism, but sadly many falling into the hands of their own countrymen (Gangmen and Gangsters) here who are treating them appalingly.
So what would help, is to allow more social housing, particularly one bed, which will allow downsizing to increase and release three and four bed properties for families. In Germany and France they have as much as 80% rented housing.
Here it's mainly in the private renting sector that huge rents are demanded. From £1,400 up to and beyond £2,000 per month for flats and 3 Bed semi detached houses in London, and yet again this free market / privatisation are behind many of the financial problems facing working people. We don't just need affordable housing we need much more Social Housing.

I watched Question Time 10.35pm Thursday where the question of housing was put to the panel, which consisted of A Labour minister, A CONservative MP, a LIB/LAB/DEM/TORY MP. some well paid guy Chairman of the National Trust who thought he new everything, and a Lady UKIP member, who had to respond to the combined political assault from all the rest, which she managed very well.
Because the three parties are aware that UKIP are getting a huge support from those of all cocasions across the UK , they forget there own failings and are using UKIP as a political football, even as can sometimes be seen, with the help of the BBC.. However when it came to housing numbers required, what the other politicians failed to understand / see is that simple arithmetic will show how flawed their ideas / understandings are, since we all know that right now there are perhaps some 90,000 on the Housing waiting List, WE are NOT building enough houses to fill that need, and yet daily more and more people, quite understandably, are entering the UK (not counting those who are illegally occupying Sheds in peoples gardens,and 10 or more to a 2 bed house) and will also need houses.
SO Mathamatically NOT POLITICALLY we cannot solve this problem until more houses are built but also a slowing down of immigration must also be invoked. Now that is not RACISM but simple facts.
And look at what has happened to the Countries where wars started not by the people, but the so-called leaders have resulted in whole Cities and Villages bombed flat, that is the Legacy people like Blair and Cameron are leaving behind, So can we really blame these refugees wanting to come and live here even in a Shed in someones garden, at least they have Water and Food, and safety from terrorism, but sadly many falling into the hands of their own countrymen (Gangmen and Gangsters) here who are treating them appalingly.
So what would help, is to allow more social housing, particularly one bed, which will allow downsizing to increase and release three and four bed properties for families. In Germany and France they have as much as 80% rented housing.
Here it's mainly in the private renting sector that huge rents are demanded. From £1,400 up to and beyond £2,000 per month for flats and 3 Bed semi detached houses in London, and yet again this free market / privatisation are behind many of the financial problems facing working people. We don't just need affordable housing we need much more Social Housing.Jabbadad

There is another solution if you don't want to build inside of Malvern or expand Malvern outwards. That is build huge blocks of flats instead of houses.

OFC we could always cap immigration and birth rates but that won't happen.

Take the easy route let them build on the land in the middle or put up with the commons around Malvern being taken up for housing.

There is another solution if you don't want to build inside of Malvern or expand Malvern outwards. That is build huge blocks of flats instead of houses.
OFC we could always cap immigration and birth rates but that won't happen.
Take the easy route let them build on the land in the middle or put up with the commons around Malvern being taken up for housing.Hugh Wattmate